§334-126  Hearing on petition.  (a)  The court shall adjourn or continue a hearing for failure to timely notify a person entitled to be notified unless the court determines that the interests of justice require that the hearing continue without adjournment or continuance.

     (b)  The time and form of the procedure incident to hearing the issues in the petition shall be provided by family court rule and consistent with this part.

     (c)  Hearings may be held at any convenient place within the circuit.  The subject of the petition, any interested party, or the family court upon its own motion may request a hearing in another court because of inconvenience to the parties, witnesses, or the family court or because of the subject's physical or mental condition.  The court may use online hearings to accommodate the needs of the parties and witnesses, in accordance with family court rules.

     (d)  The hearing shall be closed to the public, unless the subject of the petition requests otherwise.  Individuals entitled to notice are entitled to be present in the courtroom or other approved location for the hearing and to receive a copy of the hearing transcript or recording, unless the court determines that the interests of justice require otherwise.

     (e)  The subject of the petition shall not be required to be present at the hearing; provided that the subject has been served with the petition and the appointed guardian ad litem, or existing guardian, is present to represent the best interests of the subject through the proceedings.

     (f)  The court may appoint an attorney for the subject if the court determines that the interests of justice require one be appointed.  If the subject of the petition is represented by an attorney, whether retained by the subject or appointed by the court, the attorney shall be allowed adequate time for investigation of the matters at issue and for preparation, and shall be permitted to present the evidence that the attorney believes necessary for a proper disposition of the proceeding.

     (g)  No subject of the petition shall be ordered to receive assisted community treatment unless at least one qualified psychiatric examiner who has personally examined the subject within a reasonable time before the filing of the petition provides oral testimony at the hearing.  The qualified psychiatric examiner shall provide the facts that support the allegation that the subject meets all the criteria for assisted community treatment, provide a written treatment plan, which shall include non-mental health treatment if appropriate, provide the rationale for the recommended treatment, and identify the assisted community treatment provider.

     If the recommended assisted community treatment includes medication, the testimony provided by the qualified psychiatric examiner shall describe the types or classes of medication that should be authorized, and describe the physical and mental beneficial and detrimental effects of the medication.

     (h)  The subject of the petition may secure a psychiatric examination and present the findings as evidence at the hearing.  The subject shall be entitled to a psychiatric examination at a community mental health center if the subject so desires, and if an examination has not already been conducted at a community mental health center which will lead to psychiatric testimony at the hearing. [L 1984, c 251, pt of §1; am L 2013, c 221, §§12, 24; am L 2015, c 231, §4; am L 2016, c 114, §6; am L 2017, c 88, §5; am L 2018, c 144, §11; am L 2021, c 58, §4; am L 2023, c 153, §3; am L 2024, c 87, §12; am L 2025, c 219, §18]